Caitlin Clark: The Trailblazer of Long-Range 3-Point Shooting
In the world of basketball, there are players who push the boundaries of what is possible on the court. They captivate audiences with their skill and audacity, leaving fans in awe of their abilities. One such player is Caitlin Clark, a senior at the University of Iowa, who has revolutionized long-range 3-point shooting in the women’s game.
Clark’s ability to shoot from beyond the arc is unparalleled. She has made more 3-pointers beyond 25 feet than any other college player, including men, since CBB Analytics began tracking such shots five years ago. Her shooting percentage on these long-distance 3s is an impressive 39.3%, higher than her overall 3-point percentage and nearly 10% higher than the Division I average.
But what sets Clark apart is not just her accuracy from deep range, it’s her fearlessness in taking these shots. No distance is too far for her. She has the confidence to pull up from 35 feet and launch a shot without hesitation. And when she does, the crowd erupts in excitement, knowing they are about to witness something special.
This freedom to shoot from anywhere on the court is a luxury that Iowa coach Lisa Bluder is happy to grant Clark. With her incredible shooting ability, Clark has earned the right to experiment, to take risks, and to have fun on the court. And it’s this freedom that has allowed her to become the best long-range shooter in the history of women’s basketball.
But Clark’s journey to becoming a trailblazer in long-range shooting started long before her college career. As a middle schooler in suburban Iowa, she would spend hours practicing her shot, often making at least 500 3-pointers per practice session. Her former AAU coach, Dickson Jensen, recalls how she would persistently shoot even when her percentages were low. Clark’s determination and self-belief were evident from a young age.
As she progressed through high school, Clark’s shooting prowess became more refined. Her high school coach, Kristin Meyer, remembers how her wild shots gradually turned into calculated attempts to test her range. Clark’s ability to make these difficult shots became a source of excitement for both her and the crowd. The momentum swings generated by her successful long-range shots were game-changers for her team.
Clark’s audacity extends beyond the basketball court. Even in a different sport like soccer, she finds ways to make an impact. At the age of 11, during a tournament championship game, Clark suggested to her coach that she should shoot from the kickoff to equalize the score after conceding a goal. Remarkably, she executed her plan flawlessly, scoring from the halfway line and leaving everyone stunned.
This maverick mentality, as her soccer coach Ross Moffat describes it, is what sets Clark apart. She possesses an uncanny ability to improvise and find solutions that others wouldn’t even consider. Her imagination knows no bounds, and she constantly pushes the limits of what is possible on the court.
In a sport where boundaries are constantly being pushed, Caitlin Clark has taken long-range 3-point shooting to new heights. Her ability to shoot from well beyond the arc with accuracy and confidence has captivated fans across the country. With each deep-range shot she takes, she leaves no doubt that no 3-pointer is beyond her reach. And as long as Clark continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, fans will continue to be in awe of her remarkable talent.
